Pro-gay Colombian politician claims assassination attempt

BY Advocate.com Editors

January 23 2003 1:00 AM ET

Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba, the leading sponsor of a Colombian same-sex civil union bill that is up for debate in the upcoming legislative session, says she survived an assassination attempt Monday on the streets of Medellin, reports the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.

"When I was stepping out of my car, four men on two motorcycles shot at us, but, fortunately, we were able to survive after my driver was able to run over one of the assailants," Cordoba said.

Cordoba attributed the attempt to her political enemies and their distaste for her strong stand against President Alvaro Uribe's government and her unwavering support for a same-sex civil unions bill for which she is the lead sponsor. As a woman of African descent, Cordoba has also fought for measures protecting indigenous and black communities in Colombia.

Uribe released a statement Tuesday in which he said, "Public Security Forces must give Sen. Piedad Cordoba full protection. An executive order to this effect will be signed."